Grease retainer



Sept. 29, 1936.

J. H. vlcToR ET Al.

GREASE RETAINER Filed Jan. 27, 193

a1 a n am UZ 7. my /f PJ Z 5, o 2 9M a 5 zw ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES GREASE RETAINER John H. Victor, Evanston, and William A. Heinze, liicago,v Ill., assignors to Victor Manufacturing & Gasket Company, Chicago, Ill., a. corporation of Illinois Application January 27, 1933, Serial No. 653,820

4 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to grease retainers of the kind used to prevent the escape of grease or oil in any installation in which it is used. A particular use of the invention is to form a seal about the rear axle of an automobile but it may be used in other installations without departing from the purview of the invention.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel grease retainer which is eiectively reenforced so as to prevent distortion thereof during installation and use.

Other objects are to provide a grease retainer embodying a part held in constricted relation about a shaft and to so arrange this part that it may be used alone or in combination with other packing, and an ancillary object is to retain this part and the other packing with it which may be used in a unit assembly.

A further object is to provide a grease retainer having a membervincluding an armored part providing an oilseal and a flexible part which may be held in'yieldable engagement with a device to provide a seal and wherein said member and device are adapted for relative movement.

Selected embodiments of the inventionv are illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing one form of ourgrease retainer lapplied to a section of a shaft and mounted in a housing;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view showing a modified Vform of our novel retainer applied to a shaft section and in which a portion of the retainer is broken away;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing an- A other modified form o`f` the invention;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing a further modified form of the invention applied to a shaft section and mounted in a housing; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are elevational views in which portions of the grease retainers are broken away and which show further modified forms of the invention.

Referring to the drawing and more particularly to Fig. 1, the packing comprises -a ring made of leather or other suitable material 'having a tubular portion 'l to engage the periphery of a shaft 8 and a radial portion v9 securely held The peripheral edge of the radial portion of the packing is armored with a binding II which is preferably made of metal in the form of a ring having. an annular groove opening inwardly to receive the peripheral edge of the packing. The armor binding is pressed upon the packing to hold -it snugly and tightly to prevent the passage of grease or oil between the edge of the packing and the binding and also to prevent the packing from moving rotatively in the binding.- One edge I2 of the binding is bent inwardly into the packing to rigidly securev the binding on the packing. A reenforce ring or washer I3 lis secured against the outer side of the radial portion I2 of the packing and extends over that portion' of the packing where the radial portion merges with the tubular portion. The. side of the armor binding is offset as at I 4 to secure the washer reenforce to the packing. Moreover, the offset portion I4 provides a shoulder I5 in the armor binding against which a iiange I6 on the shell I0 is abutted. Whn the armor binding II is forced into the shell to be seated therein adjacent one end thereof, a coil spring I8 is arranged about the tubular portion 'I of the packing to hold the tubular portion of the packing in snug engagement with the periphery 'of the shaft to' prevent passage of grease or oil. A reenforcing ring I9 is provided which has an inturned flange 20 at the inner end thereof that engages the inwardly disposed face of the armor binding II. 'Ihe ring I9 alsol includes a side 2I which encloses one end of the shell I 0 and which retains the spring I8 in the shell. A shoulder 22 `is formed in the side 2| at the juncture thereof with the periphery of the ring I9 and a flange l 23. on the shell I0 is engaged with this shoulder. Thus the anges I6 and 23 on the shell serve to eiectively clamp the armor binding I I and the ring I8 in the shell.

The armor binding vII is pressed into the shell I 0 with suflicient force to insure a tight t between the binding and the shell to thereby prevent rotation of the binding and the packing relative to the shell. The ring I9 eiiectively reenforces the shell so that it will not be distorted when a tubular member is engaged therewith to drive the retainer into the housing in which it is mounted.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 2, a packing comprising a ring made of leather or other suitable material has a tubular portion 'la to engage the periphery of a shaft 8a and a radial portion 9a securely held against rotation in the shell Illa. The peripheral edge of the radial portion of the packing is armored with a binding Ila similar-to the binding II and including an edge .12a bent inwardly intopthe packing to rigidly secure the binding on the packing. Another packing such as a ring 24 of cork or other suitterial has a tubular ing in the same manner as the able innately resilient material has a binding 25 on the periphery thereof which includes side walls 26 and 21 and the inner edge of the side wall 21 is bent into the ring to rigidly fasten the binding on the ring. The ring 24 is mounted in the shell IIIa at the end thereof opposite the end at which the armor binding IIa on the flanged packing is mounted. A reenfo'rcing ring I9a is interposed between the bindings IIa and 25 and includes an inturned flange 20a which engages the inwardly disposed face of the armor binding I Ia. The ring Isa also includes a side 2Ia which engages the inwardly disposed side wall 21 of the binding 25 and which also retains the coil spring |8a in position tqconstrict the tubular portion 1a of the anged packing into tight leak-proof engagement with the periphery of the shaft 8a. A flange I5a atune end of the shell IIIa engages the armor binding IIa and a flange 23a atthe other end of the shell engages the outwardly disposed side wall 26 of the shell Ia holds the flanged packing, the innately resilient packing, and the reenforcing ring in assembled relatonin a unit structure.

In Fig. 6 a further modified form of the invention is shown and herein a packing comprising a ring made of leather or other suitable maportion 1b to engage the periphery of a shaft 8b and a radial portion 9b securely held against rotation in the shell IIib. The peripheral edge of the radial portion 9b of the packing is armored with a binding IIb similar to the binding I Ia and connected to the packbinding IIa is connected to the radial portion 9a. A reenforcing ring lsb includes an inturned flange 20h and a side 2lb which retains the coil spring lab in constricting' position about the tubular portion 1b to urge the same into tight engagement with the shaft 8b. Suitable packing is positioned on each side of the flanged packing and the reenforcing ring I9b and in the present instance a ring of felt 2B is provided which has a binding 29 thereon including side walls 30 and 3l, the free edge of the wall 3| being bent into the packing ring 28 to secure the binding 29 thereon. The wall II is engaged by the side 2lb of the ring I9b. The packing on the opposite side of the reenforcing ring ISb and lflanged packing consists of a ring 32 of cork or suitable material having a binding 33 thereon which includes a side wall 3l and a side wall 35. The free edge of the side wall 35 is bent into the ring 32 to secure the binding on the ring. The wall 35 is engaged with the side wall of the binding I Ib. A flange Ib at one end of the shell IIIb engages the wall 34 and a flange 23h at the other end of the shell engages the wall 30. The binding I Ib is pressed into the shell IIib to be held against rotation therein and the flanges at the ends of the shell force the bindings 29 and 33 and the ring I9b inwardly and securely lock the packings in assembled relation in a unit structure.

A still further modied form of the invention Ais illustrated in Fig. and herein two packings are provided comprising rings made of leather or other suitable material and having tubular portions 1c and 1cc to engage the periphery of the shaft 8c and radial portions 9c and Occ securely held against rotation in the shell IIic. The peripheral edge of the radial portion 9c is armored with a binding Ilc substantially similar to the binding IIa. The periphery of the radial portion scc is armored with a binding I Icc which is also substantially similar to the binding IIa.

binding 25. Thus the A reenforcing ring I9cc includes an inturned flange 20cc which engages the binding Ilcc that is arranged at one end of the shell Illc. The ring I9cc also includes a side 2Icc which is engaged with a side of the binding llc. Another reenforcing ring I9c is provided at the end of the housing opposite the binding I Icc and includes an inturned flange 30C which engages the side of the binding IIc opposite that engaged by the side 2Icc. The ring I9c also includes a side 2Ic which encloses one end of the shell and retains a spring I8c in constricting relation about the tubular portion 1c. The side 2Icc retains a coil spring I8cc in constricting relation about the tubular portion 1cc. A flange I6c is provided at one end of the shell I0c and a fiange 23e is provided at the other end of the shell. The bindings Ilc and Ilcc are pressed into the shell Ic and these bindings and the reenforcing rings I9c and IScc are heldin assembled relation in a unit structure.

In the forms of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 6 the tubular portions of the packings are constricted onto the shafts by coil springs. In Figs. 3 and 4 modified forms of the invention are illustrated and herein' the tubular portions of the packing are urged into leak-proof engagement with the wall of the housing surrounding the shaft.

In Fig. 3, the shaft 8d is journaled in a housing 35 and in this instance a shell Id is provided which is secured on the periphery of the shaft 8d. The packing includes a tubular portion 1d and a radial portion 9d. 'Ihe inner circumferential edge of the radial portion of thepacking is armored with a binding IIa'. which is preferably made of metal in the form of a ring having an annular groove opening outwardly to reoeivethe said inner edge of the packing. The armor binding is pressed upon the packing to hold it snugly and tightly and to prevent the passage of grease or oil between the edge of the packing and the binding and also to prevent the packing from moving rotatively in the binding. One edge I2d of the binding is bent inwardly into the packing to rigidly secure the binding on the packing. In this form of the invention the inner circumferential portion of the binding is narrower than the outwardly turned edges thereof and this is accomplished by offsetting the free edge of the side wall 36 of the binding, and this offset is suflicientA so that when the ange IId on the shell Illd is clamped over` into engagement with the binding IId this flange and the offset portion of the wall 35 are in substantial alignment. The binding I Id is pressed into the shell Ilid to be held against rotative movement therein and is disposed at one end of the shell IIid. A'reenforcing ring ISd includes an out-turned flange 22d which engages one side of the binding lId. The side 2id of the ring ISd is dished as at 31 so that when the ange 23d on the shell I 0d is bent over into engagement with the dished portion of the side, this flange and the remaining portion of the side 2Id are in substantial alignment. The side 2id holds the coil expansion spring IBd against ldisplacement from the shell and the spring ltd acts on the tubular portion 1d to force the same into tight leak-proof engagement with the adjacent surface of the w'ail of the housing 35.

In Fig. 4 a modified form of-the invention is shown which is an adaptation of the forms of the invention shown in Figs..2 and 3; that is to say, the packing includes a tubular portion 1e which is forced into engagement with the adjacent wall of the housing 35e by a coil expansion spring I le. The packing includes a radial portion 9e. The peripheral edge of the radial portion 9e is armored with a binding I le substantially similar to the binding lld. A reenforcing ring I9e includes an out-turned flange portion 20e which engages one side of the binding He and the binding Ile is positioned at one end of the shell Ille. The ring I9e includes a side 2|e which retains the spring |8e in the shell. An innately resilient packing such as a felt ring 38 is provided which has a binding 39 thereon that includes a side 40 that is engaged with the side 2le. The binding 39 also includes a side 4| which is dished as at 42 adjacent the inner circumference of the ring 39 to receive the flange 23e on the shell Ille, the shell also having a flange IGe which engages the binding Ile. The bindings lle and 39 are preferably pressed into the shell le and the shell IUe is secured on the periphery of the shaft 8e. The tubular portion 1e and the periphery of the packing ring 38 engage the adjacent wall of the housing 35e to provide a grease and oil tight seal.

It is manifest from .the foregoing description that we have provided a grease retainer consisting of a packing embodying a tubular portion which when urged by a spring into engagement with an adjacent member provides an oil and grease shell. The peripheral edge of the radial portion of this packing is armored and is pressed into a shell andprovides a grease and oil tight shell. The packing ring may be used in connection with innately resilient packing which may be disposed on one or both sides thereof and preferably the innately resilient packing is armored in the same manner as the radial portion of the packing ring and the armor binding on the innately resilient packing is also tightly engaged with the shell with which it is mounted. The flanges at the ends of the shell hold the packings in assembled relation within the shell and one or more reinforcing' rings is interposed between the armor bindings on the packings and serve to prevent collapsing of the retainers particularly when they are being driven into position.

We have illustrated several different forms of the invention but it is to be understood that the invention can be embodied in other forms and while we have shown the innately resilient packing as being cork and felt and in each instance have illustrated one or the other of these materials it is to be understood that these materials might be interchanged or other materials might be substituted therefor, the choice of materials being dependent chiefly upon the usage to which the retainer is to benput. `We have also illustrated certain details of construction but it is to be understood thatV the invention is susceptible of variation and modification and we therefore a packing ring having a tubular portion and av radially extending portion, an armor binding about the marginal edge of the radial portion of the packing and securely fastened in the shell against oneA flange thereof, a spring urging the tubular portion of the packing into leak-proof engagement with a relatively movable member, a reenforclng ring in the shell, an innately resilient packing ring, a binding about an edge of the innately resilient packing ring and fastened in the shell, and means for holding the packing and reenforcing rings in assembled relation in a unit structure.

2. A grease retainer comprising a shell, a packing ring having a tubular portion and a radially extending portion, an armor binding about the marginal edge of the radial portion of the packing and securely fastened in the shell adjacent one end thereof, an innately resilient packing ring, a binding about the edge of the innately resilient packing -ring and fastened in the shell adjacent the-other end thereof, and a reenforcing ring interposed between the bindings on said packing rings.

3. A grease retainer comprising a shell, a packing ring having a tubular portion and a radially extending portion, an armor binding 'about the marginal edge of the radial portion of the packing and securely fastened in the shell adjacent one end thereof, an innately resilient packing ring, a binding about the periphery of the lnnate' ly resilient packing ring and fastened in the shell, a reenforcing ring engaged with said shell and interposed between the bindings on said packing rings, and means on the shell for holding the packing and' reenforcing rings in assembled relation in aunit structure.

4. A grease retainer adapted for use with a shaft journaled in a. housing 'and comprising a shell fast on said shaft, a packing ring having a radially extending portion and a tubular portion.

a reenforcing ring interposed between the armor binding and the innately resilient packing ring.

JOHN H. VICTOR. WILLIAM A. HEINZE. 

